KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered the release of all but 16 prisoners from a group of 88 detainees that the U.S. says pose a threat to the country and region.

In a statement Thursday, Karzai says that a review of the prisoners' cases by Afghan intelligence and judicial officials turned up no evidence of wrongdoing for 45 of the detainees. Karzai says there was insufficient evidence on another 27 and that they must be released. The statement gave no details on when the release will take place.

Last week, a group of U.S. senators met Karzai in Kabul to warn him that release of the 88 detainees from the Parwan Detention Facility "would be a major step backwards" for U.S.-Afghan relations.


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